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Electron Heat Flux in Pressure Balance Structures at UlyssesPressure balance structures (PBSs) are a common feature in the high-latitude solar wind near solar minimum. Rom previous studies, PBSs are believed to be remnants of coronal plumes and be related to network activity such as magnetic reconnection in the photosphere. We investigated the magnetic structures of the PBSs, applying a minimum variance analysis to Ulysses/Magnetometer data. At 2001 AGU Spring meeting, we reported that PBSs have structures like current sheets or plasmoids, and suggested that they are associated with network activity at the base of polar plumes. In this paper, we have analyzed high-energy electron data at Ulysses/SWOOPS to see whether bi-directional electron flow exists and confirm the conclusions more precisely. As a result, although most events show a typical flux directed away from the Sun, we have obtained evidence that some PBSs show bi-directional electron flux and others show an isotropic distribution of electron pitch angles. The evidence shows that plasmoids are flowing away from the Sun, changing their flow direction dynamically in a way not caused by Alfven waves. From this, we have concluded that PBSs are generated due to network activity at the base of polar plumes and their magnetic structures axe current sheets or plasmoids.
Document ID
20020022517
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Yamauchi, Yohei
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Suess, Steven T.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Sakurai, Takashi
(National Astronomical Observatory Tokyo, Japan)
Whitaker, Ann F.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Subject Category
Solar Physics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Fall 2001 American Geophysical Union Meeting
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: December 10, 2001
End Date: December 14, 2001
Sponsors: American Geophysical Union
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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